We’re all philosophers, even if we don’t realize it! Philosophy is our world outlook, the way we percieve the world. To study philosophy is to play an active role in how we perceive the world, think about it, etc. I’m a Marxist-Leninist, and in being one I study dialectical materialism. This forms the basis of how I interpret the world, but even before studying dialectical materialism I had my own, uncodified, generally liberal approach to seeing the world. A good bit of idealism, metaphysics, and an attempt at materialism is how I would describe it.

Philosophy isn’t the realm of the educated, it’s for everyone. Part of how the ruling class retains cultural hegemony is in disseminating ruling class ideology, which often tries to gatekeep philosophy to high academia. While it requires study, philosophy is ultimately understandable even with purely amateur training.

By the way, if you’re curious about Marxism-Leninism, I wrote a basic study guide you’re welcome to check out.